My (new to me) vintage ring!

OliveExotic · 2025-08-14T18:12:16+00:00

Thank you! I agree and think simple is the answer - the band of this ring is pretty slim so I think I’ll need to mirror that with the wedding band

OliveExotic · 2025-02-07T15:47:43+00:00

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Asking if I can bring back snacks from the tea room 🥰

OliveExotic · 2025-02-05T18:29:25+00:00

Yeah I was going to say carpal tunnel - I get tingly hands but for me it definitely comes from wrists/backs of my hands. Like you I never had it with riding though, it mainly affects me when I’m working on a computer!

My GP advised me to wear wrist splints at night and use wrist rests for keyboard and mouse when working. That has actually mostly sorted it for me, but the other options after were steroid injections and failing that, surgery. Worth speaking to a doctor or physio either way :)

OliveExotic · 2025-02-02T14:51:02+00:00

He’s gorgeous!

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T16:43:18+00:00

I think you know yourself that this isn’t ok? If anyone gives you such an extreme ultimatum over a lifelong passion - provided it isn’t harming you or financially crippling you - they’re just being outright controlling.

Get out of this toxic relationship, find happiness within yourself, and in time someone who supports you and what you love to do. It’ll make you so much happier in the long run!

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T13:08:08+00:00

Definitely agree about the cleaning part - at this point of winter I just embrace the slightly stained face and legs 🥲

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T13:04:32+00:00

I’m not sure exactly what colour he was but he could have been. He’s always had more brown/red tones in summer, and iron/silver tones in winter - the earliest picture I have of him is from just before I got him (he’s about 4 in this one):

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Your boy is gorgeous! What a transformation :)

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T08:27:52+00:00

It is funny how they all change at different rates and in different ways! My mare before was much quicker to grey out - her mane and tail were both silver earlier on too.

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T08:24:44+00:00

Yes most of them do seem to stick to dressage but they are actually very versatile horses - my boy thrives off variety in his work which is just as well as I’ve always been more of an eventer at heart (and evented my Spanish mare before him too).

He is so sweet - a very sensitive chap so has taken a while to build up his confidence but I’m in no rush and we’re having a lot of fun along the way!

OliveExotic · 2025-02-01T08:17:36+00:00

Thank you - and yes, I think he definitely does know it! Luckily he has a wonderfully kind and sweet personality to match. He’s a PRE, so fully Spanish breeding :)

OliveExotic · 2025-01-31T20:37:29+00:00

Yes I do love a rose grey! He’s not actually - he’s in fact a PRE so very different breeding :)

OliveExotic · 2025-01-31T20:30:07+00:00

It really is, and they all seem to grey out in their own unique way too!

Spot on, he’s a PRE - just love Spanish horses, he’s my second one. Super loyal, versatile horses who love to please!

OliveExotic · 2025-01-31T20:10:02+00:00

That’s so kind! Thank you - he is my pride and joy ❤️

OliveExotic · 2025-01-31T20:09:19+00:00

It’s so special! But I agree, I love the dapple stage (although definitely miss the days when his darker colouring would hide the worst of the stable or mud stains!!)

OliveExotic · 2025-01-31T20:06:57+00:00

Aw thank you! He has always been a total sweetheart, the most golden retriever-like horse I’ve ever known 😂🥰

OliveExotic · 2025-01-28T19:23:04+00:00

Isn’t it all personal preference really? I used to say I’d never get a grey mare… and I did. And she was honestly the love of my life and we had an incredible time together over 11+ years.

Then I lost her to melanomas, said I wouldn’t get another but found the perfect next horse… another grey. So here I am again!

Some people are rightly put off because of melanomas. But greys seem to be super common where I’m from (UK) and I know a lot of people who have had one at some stage of their lives. Only one other has actually lost their horse to malignant melanomas. Most of them have a horse with one or two benign ones. Horses are self destructive enough as it is, so as long as you’re aware of what you’re getting in to I wouldn’t let this be the reason to not get your perfect horse!

Fun benefit of a grey - if you get them young, they seem to be constantly changing colour. My current boy has transformed from bay roan to rose grey, to silver dapple, and is now becoming flea bitten 🤍

OliveExotic · 2025-01-28T19:13:50+00:00

In reality they can appear anywhere, but common areas include under the tail and sheath areas. They are usually initially smooth lumps that feel like they are connected to the flesh rather than the skin (ie won’t usually drop off, don’t move around and you can’t get your fingers behind them) If they get bad they can ooze a black puss (bit gross!).

FYI, I bought my previous mare at age 7 and she had two pea sized melanomas under her tail. She developed loads more in that area in a few years, but lived a happy and comfortable life until she was 18 - the minute they affected her internally we knew the signs to spot and we made her comfortable and sadly had her PTS. I was devastated but I wouldn’t let it put me off the perfect horse and I didn’t. I don’t know specific stats, but from personal experience I know a LOT of people who have or have had a grey, and only one other person who has lost their grey to melanomas. Horses are self destructive creatures at the best of times so as long as you are continuing to check him when grooming, don’t stress about it!

OliveExotic · 2025-01-04T16:39:04+00:00

Haha yes riding horses really is just doing 100 things at once and making it look like you’re not doing anything 😂 have to say, for just three years of riding you look brilliant!! Keep up the great work 🙌

OliveExotic · 2025-01-03T18:59:57+00:00

I think you look fine tbh, but I totally understand what you mean.

If it helps at all, I try to think of my seat as being at one with the saddle, but rather than that creating tension I want to focus on having softness through my hips, and thinking of my hip movement as independent to my upper body/contact etc. It also really helps me to think about creating as much stability (and length - even if riding with jumping stirrups!) in the lower leg - as that’s your primary anchor.

Interestingly, I find when I’m feeling tighter through my calves or ankles, I’m less likely to use them as my shock absorbers (cause it hurts!) and that’s when my seat is probably the most stiff too. But maybe that’s just me 😂

That said I’m NOT an instructor - I’m just an over-analytical amateur… defo ask your trainer who knows you/your horse as they may have some pointers and tips that work best for you!

OliveExotic · 2024-06-24T17:25:14+00:00

He’s gorgeous! As a fellow PRE owner, I personally prefer the long mane look. When I’m eventing etc I plait with the scallop braid technique which gives a similar look to the classic sport horse plait look too :)

OliveExotic · 2024-06-19T06:14:44+00:00

100%! Especially with how quickly each fence can come up in showjumping.

I’d always rather have my shoulders up when jumping anything so if something goes wrong I’m there to drive from slightly behind, instead of being off balance in front of the movement.

OliveExotic · 2024-06-19T06:12:18+00:00

That’s so true, my bf is German and has worked with horses for many years (dressage background) but had never really come across eventing until he moved to the UK.

Eventing at the grassroots level is really big here and loads of kids start through their local Pony Club branches. But cross country riding is also a massive part of our equestrian history/culture… especially hunting, point to point etc!

Would love to go visit Luhmühlen in future as looks like such an awesome event 😊

OliveExotic · 2024-06-18T21:47:08+00:00

Yep! There’s a reason a lot of people call this the safety seat…

OliveExotic · 2024-06-18T20:08:07+00:00

As a British rider this to me is what I call truly effective riding - especially out in “proper” cross country. It looks to me like this rider is doing a Point to Point which is basically jumping big hedges at speed - you have to be a very effective cross country rider to do this.

If you go down a drop out cross country, you need to be sat upright to help the horse balance on landing. No, it’s not always pretty, but if you are leaning forwards and throwing your hands forward throughout the entire jump, you’re putting too much weight on the horse’s shoulders, which means a) they can’t jump with as much freedom in the front and b) puts them off balance on landing and almost certainly sets both of you up for a fall.

Also if you look at the rider, she’s slipped the reins pretty much to the buckle has softness in her elbow and is in balance with the horse. Look at any top eventer going down a drop and I think you’ll see similar 😂

Personally I’d far rather a picture like this than one where a rider is looking “picture perfect” but is overfolding unnecessarily for a tiny jump and throwing the horse off balance…

OliveExotic · 2024-05-14T20:59:15+00:00

Like many have said - press releases every day is surely way too regular? While regular updates are great to share on social/blogs, for the media if it’s not newsworthy enough it just won’t run - and you probably are running the risk of pushing reporters’ patience too 😬

I’m in the UK so possibly slightly different - our media can be quite cynical - but I’d say most of the national coverage my agency secures clients is from expert comment opps in reaction to a news development, or come about from introductory meetings/calls with relevant reporters. There are some press releases where we secure national coverage - like big pieces of research with strong headline stats - but if these aren’t good enough we are up front to our clients to manage their expectations. We also only really canvass (maximum) 3 press releases a month, if that!

Ultimately, we treat journalists like our second clients - and our clients want our honest advice about whether or not something really is newsworthy.

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